A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

barra8 · Guru

Freestyle Trails

Richard · Member

Well went out on the weekend with a few mates and they sorted of mentioned that their bike is more set-up for off road. Now I know I have 0 experience and I noticed the semi tyres I had wern't off road friendly. But after falling off like every five minutes and trailing behind while my mates had to stop and wait for me (they're on WR450 btw) I kind of felt a bit un happy. The trails we were on were all full of mud, water and 4WD ruts.

Is there anything I can do to help my bike better suit off road?

And any tips for me when riding? My mates sort of gave me a few tips and tried to help, they were more patient then I thought. One thing i noticed was that i was scared to turn the front tyre which made me end up in the trees half the time.

all is it really down to practice practice practice

domski1 · Senior Member

Like jarrah said the tyres will make a massive difference, any new motorcross style tyre will totally change your riding. When I used to do a lot of trail riding I would notice a change in my riding in mud as my tyres lost there edge!

barra8 · Guru

I would have like to heard more about other peoples riding techniques & what they find helps go up against the big names like RM-Z450,YZF-450F ect.

I seem to have a good chance with my mates YZ450F & have no trouble keeping up up. The TTR does'nt have anywhere near as much bottom end as the YZ450F (obviously) but the riding techniques that i have learnt over time seem to suffice for bottom end power. Also a TT250-R is a pleasure to ride & cornering is very easy. Also the 6 speed gearbox helps in the top end & goes an extra 20 klms or so (still to be tested) than the YZ-450F (when fitted with a racing 4 speed gearbox).

TTR's are not the fastest bike but if you maintain a good pace into corners (without ''over-cooking'') while keeping the revs above 3000Rpm (where possible) nearly anything is possible when it comes to trail aww

Gotta love the good old TT-250R

.......................

Jarrah.

-- Edited by barra8 on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 03:53:09 AM

-- Edited by barra8 on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 03:55:59 AM

TTRfan · Super Guru

A few general tips based on personal experience, not training!

- Just as in road riding, look ahead when riding, not down at your front wheel. This allows you to anticipate what is coming and prepare for it. If you look down at the ground by your front wheel, chances are that's right where you'll end up!

- Also as in road riding, look where you WANT to go. You'll hit what you're looking at, so don't look at the tree, look at the gap next to it. This is based very much on painful experience!

- Relax. The bike is far more capable than you. If you fight it, you will often lose!

- On the rougher stuff, stand up (as per MB riding) and move your body to adjust balance and tyre grip accordingly.

- Keep the front wheel pointing in roughly the right direction. The back wheel will tend to follow, so don't worry if it slithers about a bit or skips sideways over a rock. That's normal and if you keep the front pointed, the bike will (normally) keep going where you want it.

- It can sometimes be easier to ride the rough(ish) stuff if you maintain a bit of speed to go over the top of it. Otherwise you'll be picking your way over every rock which can be exhausting.

- most riders hate ruts. To ride ruts faster, keep your weight back, look ahead (VERY important - don't be looking down at your front wheel) and keep the gas on. Easier said than done!

- Don't be forced to ride faster than you're comfortable with. That's just asking for trouble! If the others won't wait, don't ride with them again. This is supposed to be fun and there are plenty of other riders who will be sympathetic. Even if they do laugh when you fall off. We all do it now and again.

- Watch other people and learn from their good techniques as well as their mistakes. Most of us started where you are now, not very long ago.

- Don't be afraid of your front brake, even on downhills. Obviously if its particularly slippery, then you'll probably want to avoid it, but other than this, it can be the most effective way to slow down (or stop) on a hill.

- Try to keep both wheels rotating at all times when you are moving. If you e.g. lock the back wheel going downhill, you'll lose directional control from that wheel, and have reduced braking. In most cases, that is not the desired outcome.

- Give your bike a once-over before you start. Make sure your chain is not too loose (or tight) and is well lubed. Check your tyre pressures are OK. Depending on your tyres, you may want around 12 PSI (some have more, some less). This can make a huge difference to your ride. If you have 20+ psi in your tyres, you'll simply be providing entertainment for the others riders!

- Carry at least a basic toolkit - learn how to mend punctures with the tools you're carrying!!!

- Carry a drink, and keep hydrated as you ride. It can really take it out of you, especially if you get caught on a tricky part.

- Wear appropriate clothing (and protective gear) for the conditions and the temperature. You WILL fall off. More than once. Get used to it.

- Go along to any local dirtbike club 'group' events. They are great for trying things out, exchanging tips and tales and simply having a good time!

Brian

Phil · Member

TTRfan wrote:
Check your tyre pressures are OK. Depending on your tyres, you may want around 12 PSI (some have more, some less). This can make a huge difference to your ride. If you have 20+ psi in your tyres, you'll simply be providing entertainment for the others riders!

I second this! I am still amazed at how different the bike behaves off road with just a couple of PSI difference in tyre pressure.

My TTR has a sticker on the tail guard with recommended tyre pressures of 18 PSI front and 22 PSI on the rear. When I first started riding (the TTR is my first bike) this is what I set them to. But I now know that these are too high for off road. At those pressures the bike rebounds of every rock and bump. You feel that the bike is disconnected from the trail surface.

Once I dropped the pressure down to 14 PSI front a rear, what a difference. The bike mushes over obstacles instead of deflecting off them. You feel that there is better traction for acceleration, breaking and cornering.

barra8 · Guru

TTRfan wrote:
Check your tyre pressures are OK. Depending on your tyres, you may want around 12 PSI (some have more, some less). This can make a huge difference to your ride. If you have 20+ psi in your tyres, you'll simply be providing entertainment for the others riders!

I agree with this also. Although if riding rocky,rugged terrain alot it would be advisable to go no less than 15psi (reccommended for offroad trails is 17psi). If you do the result may be a punture blankstare or even worse a cracked rim Just a warning. Obviously your weight would be a factor in determining tire pressure aswell.

................................

Jarrah.

-- Edited by barra8 on Thursday 27th of September 2012 06:26:03 AM

BM Steve · Guru

Richard wrote:
all is it really down to practice practice practice

Hey Richard, it's always down to practice practice practice, but you have to practice the right things otherwise you only get to practice bad techniques

These are my recomendations

Enduro: Shane Watts Academy Of Off-Road Riding

I have disc 1 & 2, Watts'y is the worlds worst actor but one of the worlds best riders biggrin

Duel Sport: Dual Sport Riding Techniques

I have disc 1 & 2, these are great no nonsense techniques that will get you anywhere safely and in one piece.

My riding skills improved greatly after watching these discs many times and practice

I have a unused golf course nearby home and spend time there on the smooth even ground every week just drilling.

turns, braking, cornering, off camber hills, you name it

biggrin

jasperthehorse · Veteran Member

Hey mate

Stick with it. Im a relative newbie but getting much better and much more confident.

My brother in law is a really experienced trail rider as opposed to me who is a really confident road rider.

Ive learned its all a bit back to front at times compared to road riding. Im learning very quickly that you need to spend lots of time standing up on the pegs, relax on the grip on the bars, learn to move your body weight around a lot and try to get your nuts up near the tank as much as possible. Ive also learned that momentum is your best friend, I used to ride really slowly, like sub 10mph and struggled. Now I find 15 - 20mph (max) is much more comfortable.

Get your eyes miles out ahead of you and look where you want to go. Dont look down two feet in front of you, you will hit that rock/ditch/hole/tree root. By the way, ruts are just awful to ride in at the best of times.

BaronGreenback · Veteran Member

Keep your shoulders loose, don't tense up as it amplifies the handlebar input, making jerky overcompensations = eaiser to fall.
Grip the tank with your knees. I know there is a proper reason for this, but it escapes me at the moment. Seems to help with feeling the balance of the bike and traction of both wheels.
Don't go slowly through slippy mud, try to get the weight over the back wheel, keep the front straigt as possible and, to quote Clarksonius, 3rd century BC: Power!!!

Gcorner · Veteran Member

I found pushing the limits of things at slow speeds (30-40Km) really helped my riding, slam on the front brakes until the wheel is locked and sliding then learn to let it off not panic, slam on the back til locked and bike is pointing in a different direction,like a handbrake turn in a car can be useful for rapid direction changes mid-corner,lose traction around a corner with the gas and push back up with your extended leg (always knee bent, foot pointed forward near front axle). Counter steering is very important too, it will get the bike over very quickly, if you don't know what it is use google and then be astonished at the change. Keep your weight on top of the bike not always in and through the bike, so bike is leaning but you are not, keeps weight pushing the bike down not across. And watch as many tutorials as you can then focus on one thing, like all one day is braking, pick a point in front of you and then try and stop before it, keep moving the point closer to you and you will find the limits of the brakes in those conditions.